A federal judge on Wednesday decided that a teenager accused of sexually assaulting and murdering his 18-year-old stepsister aboard a Carnival Cruise ship will remain free temporarily while the court reviews legal arguments presented during a hearing in Miami.

The defendant, 16-year-old Timothy Hudson, was first arrested and charged as a juvenile. Earlier this year, U.S. Magistrate Judge Edwin Torres ruled that Hudson could stay with his uncle under electronic monitoring rather than remain in custody.

However, after the case was transferred to adult court, federal prosecutors requested that Hudson be detained until the trial concludes.

Following Wednesday morning’s hearing, Judge Torres did not issue an immediate ruling. Instead, he said he wanted additional information from the U.S. Marshals Service regarding the possibility of holding Hudson in central Florida, near his relatives, rather than in South Florida where the proceedings are being handled.

The judge has not announced when a final decision will be made. For now, Hudson was allowed to leave the courthouse after the hearing instead of being taken into custody.

Hudson has pleaded not guilty to charges including first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse. Federal prosecutions involving minors are considered uncommon. His public defense attorneys have not publicly commented on the allegations.

According to investigators, Hudson’s stepsister, Anna Kepner, was traveling with family members aboard the Carnival Horizon cruise ship in November. Hudson was also on the trip. Authorities stated that shortly before the ship returned to Florida, Kepner’s body was discovered hidden beneath a bed inside a cabin she shared with Hudson and another teenager.

Officials later determined that Kepner died from mechanical asphyxia, a condition caused when breathing is blocked by physical force or an object.

Anna Kepner’s father, Christopher Kepner, previously released a statement expressing confidence in the legal process while acknowledging the emotional impact on the family.

“Our family is placing trust in the justice system to pursue the truth with care and integrity,” he said. “The situation is deeply painful and complex for everyone involved.”

Kepner was a cheerleader at Temple Christian School in Titusville, Florida, located east of Orlando. During her memorial service in November, relatives asked attendees to wear bright colors instead of traditional black clothing as a tribute to what they described as Anna’s “bright and beautiful soul.”